Ice crusher



Jan. 27, 1959 w. E. MOORE I ICE CRUSHER Filed Oct. 21, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 o /o l a5 j\0\37\e fly l l 3o az Z?. 'Z' 5f* 32 7 6 39 52 I T30- T6 /Y /22 l 22 7g4 A/ A 59 L i 30 l Il *i7 l /59 $526 26 l ,6o I I 24 HTTORNEY Jan. 27, 1959 `w. E. MOORE I CE' CRUSHER United States Patent 2,870,969 Patented Jan. 27, 1959 ice `ICE CRUSHER Walter E. Moore, St. Louis County, Mo., assigner to Swing-A-Way Manufacturing ICompany, St. Louis, Mm, a corporation of Missouri Application October 21, 1954, Serial No. 463,787

7 Claims. (Cl. 241.-238) Thepresentiinvention relates generally to ice Crushers, and moreparticularly` to a household device adapted to receive `conventional ice `cubes and to crushthem into either of two relative grades of coarseness.

Briefly, the present invention contemplates a device adapted for Wall mounting and comprising a crushing mechanism and a receptacle. The crusher includes a housing adapted to receive conventional ice cubes through a top opening. At the lower end of the housing, two sets of parallel vanes are provided, each set extending a diiferent proportion ofthe distance from one side of the housing to the center thereof. A crank operated crusher assembly is disposedcentrally of the crusher and has crusher teeth which are arranged to pass between adjacent vanes of the housing. The ice cubes are crushed to different grades of ycoarseness depending `.upon the direction in which the rotatable Crusher assembly is turned. A cup-like receptacle is provided and is arranged to be detachably suspended from the Vlower end of the housing and thus to receive crushed fragments of ice as they pass through the crushing mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novelfice Crusher adapted to crush conventional ice cubes into a selected one of two dilferent grades of coarseness.

It is another object of the invention to provide a household ice Crusher which is crank operated and which is adapted to crush ice into different grades of coarseness depending upon the direction of rotation of the crank.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel household ice crusher which incorporates a rotating Crusher assembly having teeth so arranged as to engage and fracture conventional ice cubes in a positive manner.

It is another object of the invention to provide a rotatable crusher assembly having a plurality of teeth so formed and arranged as to engage conventional ice cubes ina positive manner and thus insure immediate fracturing thereof.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a household ice crusher which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which is, at the same time, rugged in its design and simple in its operation.

The foregoing and additional objects and advantages will be apparent from the` following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the description being taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of anice crusher constructed in accordance with the teachings of the prevent invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear elevation thereof, a lower portion of a receptacle being broken away to conserve space;

l Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken generally along the line 6-6 of Figure 3;

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Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 77 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is an isometric View of a removed receptacle;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical elevation showing the lower end of a Crusher housing provided with-means for retaining the receptacle of Figure 8;

Figure ld is an isometric view of `a removed Crusher tooth; and

Figure ll is a horizontal cross section taken generally along the line 11-11 of Figure 2, but with the crank handle being rotated ninety degrees and being shown broken ott to conserve space. i

ReferrinU to the drawings more particularly by means of reference numerals, 20 designates generally an ice Crusher conforming to the teachings of the present invention. The Crusher Ztl comprises an ice crushing mechanism 22 and a removable receptacle 24. The latter, shown removed in Figure 8, is essentially cup-like in form and is provided with diametrically opposed inwardly extending lugs 25 adjacent the upper rim. These lugs 25 enable the receptacle 24 to be suspended from the crushing mechanism 22 in a Amanner which is apparent from Figures 2, 3 and 5. lf desired, the receptacle 24 may be styled through the incorporation of such decorative treatment as providing grooves 26 therein.

Directing attention now to the crushingmechanism Z2, it will be observed best perhaps from Figure 5, `that the mechanism 22 comprises a main Crusher housing`30 provided with a lid 32 and a rotatable crushing assembly The Crusher housing 3@ is generally barrel-like in form, being open both at the top and at the bottom. The general exterior configuration is not critical and may be designed for pleasing appearance. Preferably, however, the house ing 30 includes means for mounting the Crusher Ztl, wherefore the illustrated embodiment is shown to have a rear planar mounting surface 35 flanked by parallel guide lugs 36. It is apparent that an appropriately shaped bracket may be secured to the surface 35 with screws inserted into holes 37.

Also, at the rear of the housing 30 and at the upper end of the mounting surface 35 there is provided ahinge` lug 38 which cooperates in a well lrnownmanner with a pair of hinge lugs 39 formed integral with the lid 32 and pivotally joined to thelugs` 38 by means of a hinge pin 40. As illustrated in thedrawings, the lid 32 is shaped to fit the upper rim of the barrel-like housing 30 and normally occupies a closed position.

As best shown in Figures 5, 7 and 9, the crusher housing 30 terminates at its lower end in a short skirt-like portion 42 which may be received within the upper end of the receptacle 24. rlhe outside of this portion 42 is provided with diametrically opposed notches 43, each of which communicates with a peripheral groove 44. lt will be understood that each of the grooves 44 commences at one of the notches 413 and extends only partly around the portion 42. This simple arrangement provides for retene tion ofthe receptacleA 2d with the housing Siti, the procedure being rst to engage the lugs 25 in the notches 43 and then to yturn the receptacle 24 to slide the lugs 25 into the grooves dit. Obviously, the receptacle 24 may be removed from the housing 30 by reversing this procedure.

Two sets of Crusher vanes are provided adjacent the lower end of the housing 3d on the inside thereof. As clearly shown in Figures 5, 6 and 11, the individual vanes of each set extend in parallel array transversely of the housing 3l). To be more specific, it will be noted from Figures 6 and ll that four plate-like vanes 48 extend inwardly from one side of the housing 30 and that four generally similar vanes 5d extend inwardly from the opposite side of the housing 30. Thus, for each vane 48 there is a corresponding vane 50 and the individual vanes of each set lie in four parallel planes. The inwardly extending free ends of the several vanes 48 are all disposed in identical relationship with a 'central vertical plane through the crusher 20, as are also the inwardly extending free ends of each of the vanes 50. It is apparent, however, .from Figures 6 and ll, as well as from'Figure 7, that the vanes 48 approach closer to the center of the housing 30 than do the vanes 50. It

will also be noted from Figure 7 that the vanes 48 and S differ in the degree `of inclination of their upper edges, this being for a purpose to appear.

The housing 30 is provided with a front aperture 52 and a rear aperture 54, these apertures 52 and 54 having a common axis which lies in the previously mentioned central vertical plane of the crusher 2t). As is apparent from the several figures of the drawing, the common axis of the apertures 52 and 54 is horizontal and is disposed substantially above the level of the vanes 48 and 50.

The crank assembly 34, which is mounted in the apertures 52 and S4 of the crusher housing 30, comprises a crank shaft 58 which is provided with an integral crank arm 59 having a rotatable knob or handle 60. As illustrated, the crank shaft 58 is for the most part hexagonal in cross section, but has a cylindrical bearing portion 61 adjacent the crank arm 59 and a reduced threaded portion 62 forming the free end of the crank shaft 58.

A plurality of crusher teeth 64 are incorporated in the crusher 20. These teeth 64, one of which is shown removed in Figure 10, have hexagonal apertures 66 by means of which they may be mounted in non-pivotablc relationship on the crank shaft 58. In addition, each crusher tooth 64 has a tooth portion 68 which includes sharp chisel-like edges 70.

Figures 5, 6 and l1 show the present crusher 30 to be provided with seven -crusher teeth 64, these teeth 64 being assembled upon the crank shaft 58 and separated by washer-like spacers 72 so as to be lined up generally with the spaces between the vanes 48 and 50.

Attention is particularly directed to the illustrated arrangement of the crusher teeth 64 wherein, in some instances, two crusher teeth 64 are disposed in immediately i adjacent position without a washer 72 therebetween. Attention is also specically directed to the illustrated angular disposition of the several crusher teeth 64 on the crank shaft 58. As illustrated in the drawings, the extended portion 68 of adjacent non-juxtaposed crusher teeth 64 are disposed at progressive 60 degree intervals working outwardly both ways from the middle crusher tooth 64. Where two teeth 64 are juxtaposed, however, the respective portions 68 `are disposed in 180 degree relationship.

The several crusher teeth 64 and Washers 72 are retained on the crank shaft 58 by means of a cylindrical nut 75 whichengages the threaded portion 62 and also functions as a journal for engagement with the aperture 54.

In use the ice crusher 20 will normally be wall mounted, as previously described, whereupon the lid 32 may be raised and the upper portion of the crusher housing 30 lled with ice cubes. With the crusher 2t) thus charged, the lid 32 is lowered and the crank assembly 34 may then be rotated in either of two directions. Whichever direction is chosen, it is obvious that the ice cubes which, perforce, rest upon the crusher teeth 64 will -be engaged by the chisel-like edges 70. These edges 70 eiectively engage and gouge into the ice cubes and, `being driven in rotation, are effective to draw engaged cubes downwardly toward and against one or the other sets of vanes 48 or 50 depending upon the direction of rotation of the crank assembly 34. The tendency of the vanes 48 or 50 to restrain the engaged cube enables the chisel-like edges 70 to cleave the ice cube until the cube is fractured into pieces small enough to pass on if down through the lower end of the housing 30 and to be collected in the receptacle 24. It is, of course, clear that if after a cube is first fractured there still remains a piece too big to pass into the receptacle 24, continued rotation of the crank assembly 34 will bring additional crusher teeth 64 into `action against the same cube.

Referring now to Figure 7, and the relationship between the crusher teeth 64 and the respective vanes 48 and 50, it will be noted that the teeth 64 actually pass between the vanes 48, Whereas due to the difference in shape between the vanes 48 and the vanes 50, the teeth 64 do not pass between the vanes 50. It is evident then that larger `chunks of ice may be passed between the rotating crank assembly 34 and the vanes 50 than can be accommodated between the assembly 34 and the vanes 48. Hence, it will be understood that rotation of the crank assembly 34 in a clockwise direction will produce relatively line crushed ice, whereas rotation in the opposite direction will produce relatively coarse crushed ice. It will, of course, be understood that with crushed ice collected in the receptacle 24, the latter may be disengaged from the crusher housing 30 and the crushed ice therein will be immediately available for use.

. Clearly, there has been described an ice crusher which fuliills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements, substitution of equivalent elements, and rearrangement of parts, which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is `limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. An ice crusher comprising, in combination, housing means for receiving a plurality of ice cubes, means including tooth means movable within said housing means for engaging and fracturing received ice cubes, said tooth means comprising a tooth having an extended portion provided with oppositely directed chisel-like edges, first and second stationary restraining means disposed within said housing for cooperation with said tooth means, said rst restraining means being adapted to cooperate with said movable means in retaining fragments of ice cubes above a first predetermined general size and said second restraining means being adapted to cooperate with said movable means in retaining fragments of ice cubes above a second predetermined general size, and a receptacle disposed below said movable means and said restraining means for collecting crushed ice.

2. The combination of claim l wherein the irst and second restraining means are disposed on opposite sides of a plane passing through the axis of movement of said movable means.

3.1The combination of claim 2 wherein the first and second restraining means are formed integral with said housing means.

4. An ice crushing mechanism comprising, in combination, a barrel-like housing, a first and a second set of crusher vanes disposed adjacent one end of said housing, a rotatable crushing assembly extending transversely through the housing intermediate the ends thereof, said rotatable crushing assembly being located closer to one of said sets of crusher vanes than to the other and having spaced teeth provided with clockwise directed gou-ging edges adapted to cooperate with said iirst set of crusher vanes for crushing ice to one maximum size and countercloekwise directed gouging edges adapted to cooperate with said second set of crusher vanes tfor crushing ice to a different maximum size,

5. An ice crushing mechanism comprising, in combination, a housing having a top charging opening and a bottom discharge opening, obstructing means including two sets of horizontally spaced vanes extending inwardly from opposite sides of the housing to' terminate at diierent 5 distances from acentral vertical plane through the housing, and a crank assembly comprising spaced crusher teeth having dual chisel-like edges mounted for rotation in the housing and having a'horizontal axis of rotation lying in said central vertical plane, said teeth having their dual chisel-like edges directed in opposite angular directions relative to said axis of rotation and being thereby arranged for cooperation selectively with either of said sets of vanes for crushing ice therebetween.

6. An ice crushing mechanism comprising, in combination, a barrel-like housing, xed restraining means in said housing, rotatable crushing means in said housing, said restraining means including fixed rst and second sections disposed at dilerent distances from the axis of rotation of said crushing means, said crushing means including trst and second sets of chisel-like `gouging edges rfacing in diierent angular directions relative to said axis of rotation, whereby rotation of the crushing means in one angular direction is eiective to crush ice to relatively coarse maximum size and rotation of the crushing means in the other angular direction is effective to crush ice to relatively fine maximum size.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the crushing means comprises a plurality of teeth mounted for rotation about a common axis, each tooth having a radially extended portion, said portion being provided with oppositely directed chisel-like edges.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,964,050 Goetz June 26, 1934 2,208,040 Moeller July 16, 1940 2,213,166 Majewski Aug. 27, 1940 

